Welcome to our feature – Arts Scene Around Freo – compiled by our Arts Editor, Gayle O’Leary. Here we will bring to your attention community Arts events happening around Freo – visual arts, live performances, music gigs of various sorts, you name it. Each week we will post Arts Scene on our homepage as well as in The Weekly Edition. If you’d like to have your event included, let Gayle know!
So, what’s happening this week?
Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre
Open 7 Days 9am – 5pm
See What’s On to explore art exhibitions, live music, workshops, and more
A Community-Led Creative Campus for Art, Learning and Exchange
Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre is a creative campus committed to fostering a community of innovation and inspiration, collaboration and curiosity, risk taking and rigour. We are both a cultural and a learning precinct situated in Walyalup (Fremantle) on Whadjuk Nyoongar Boodjar in the centre of a city celebrated for its innovation, culture and creativity, shaped by the many communities who call it home.
Spread over a four-acre site and housed in a gothic heritage building, our annual program includes contemporary visual arts exhibitions and a diverse range of multidisciplinary performance, music and discourse. We support a unique artist in residence program, extensive creative learning programs and we are home to a café and our FOUND shop – celebrating the highest quality creations of WA makers and designers. We also manage and curate the Moores Building Contemporary Arts Space in the West End of Fremantle.
WFAC’s commitment to supporting local artists is at the heart of all the centre’s programming and activities.
WFAC presents and commissions contemporary art by artists working locally, nationally and internationally. All exhibitions are free, ensuring the visual arts program remains accessible and inclusive for everyone.
📍1 Finnerty Street, Fremantle
Luna SX Cinemas
Our go to local for arthouse, independent, worldleading quality films, alongside critically acclaimed and popular films.
Luna also screens film festival flics, including the Biennial Fremantle Design Film Festival, the Metropolitan Opera, and National Theatre Live broadcasts.
*Double Features are back!*
📍Nestled in the laneway between Norfolk and Essex Street, 13 Essex Street, Fremantle
https://www.lunapalace.com.au/cinemas/luna-on-sx
South Terrace Piazza
See What’s On for weekly pop up art exhibitions, music, workshops, and more!
Piazza Fremantle is a living, breathing celebration of human expression, a place for makers, innovators, misfits, wanderers, and anyone craving connection. Here, you can get lost in a modern maze of colour, creativity, flavour, and soul. This is a community that doesn’t just welcome you, it invites you to belong.
To linger. To play. To contribute.
PIAZZA is Fremantle’s evolving arts district, a collection of galleries, creative spaces, independent retail, food, events and public art woven together in the heart of Freo.
More than a place to visit, PIAZZA is a place to wander. Discover an exhibition, stumble across an artist at work, explore independent stores, catch live music, join a workshop, find something good to eat or simply stay awhile.
Home to alternative thinkers, passionate doers, makers, creators and rebels, PIAZZA celebrates the creative spirit that has always made Fremantle different.
We’re building something alive, welcoming and unmistakably Freo, a place to create, connect, linger and belong.
📍South Terrace Piazza 36 South Terrace, Fremantle
Cloud Forest, Unfolding
Friday 18 September- 20 October 2026
Japingka Gallery is proud to present Cloud Forest, Unfolding: Ömie Barkcloth Art of Papua New Guinea, an extraordinary exhibition of contemporary barkcloth designs created by women artists from the remote mountain forests of Oro Province.
The Ömie homeland is a place of extraordinary natural beauty. Deep valleys are surrounded by mountains that stretch towards the horizon, often disappearing beneath drifting cloud and mist. Dense rainforest pathways lead through a world alive with flowers, fruits, birds, butterflies and other creatures, while the sacred volcano Huvaimo stands at the heart of Ömie Country.
This remarkable environment is reflected throughout Ömie barkcloth painting. Through intricate mark-making, pattern and colour, artists draw on their intimate knowledge of the natural world, transforming observations of forest, mountain, sky and living things into highly sophisticated abstract designs.
📍Japingka Art Gallery 47 High Street, Fremantle
https://japingkaaboriginalart.com/collections/cloud-forest-unfolding/#content
St Ali Italian Film Festival 2026
Thursday 24 September – 18 October
View the daily festival schedule here.
Returning to cinema screens this September is the largest celebration of Italian culture and film outside Italy, the 2026 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival presented by Palace. Featuring unmissable gems from some of Italy’s finest filmic talents, the festival screens at Luna Palace Cinemas from September 24 til October 18.
Among this year’s highlights is the bittersweet romantic drama THREE GOODBYES (Tre ciotole), based on the bestselling novel by Michela Murgia. When a couple (played by acclaimed actors Alba Rohrwacher and Elio Germano) split up after what seems like a trivial argument, their lives dramatically change in this emotional, ultimately life-affirming tale from director Isabel Coixet.
Directed by and starring Rocco Papaleo, THE GREATER GOOD (Il bene comune) is both a story of resilience and a heartfelt love letter to the southern Italian region of Basilicata. The story follows a hiking group whose search for an ancient pine tree in Pollino National Park becomes a transformative journey for each of them.
THE EYES OF OTHERS (Gli occhi degli altri) starring Jasmine Trinca and Filippo Timi, takes its inspiration from sensational real events amongst the elite in 1960s Italy. Set on the scenic Pontine Islands archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea, this provocative thriller is an intense tale of passion and crime amidst the wild beauty of an island owned by an immensely wealthy marquis.
The comedy TWIN STARS (Stella gemella) portrays a couple facing a relationship crisis who suddenly learn they are expecting twins. But not a regular set of twins, an extremely rare case in which each twin has a different father! Featuring stellar supporting performances from Margherita Buy and Laura Morante, this delightful new comedy from Luca Lucini is a story of family, modern love and self-discovery.
Intergenerational dramatic comedy CLASSMATES (Domani interrogo), based on Gaja Cenciarelli’s novel, stars Anna Ferzetti as a devoted English teacher assigned to the toughest class in a Rome high school. The film highlights the power of education, and the essential nature of respect and community in today’s classrooms.
📍Luna SX Fremantle
https://lunapalace.com.au/festivals/italian-ff
Fremantle Underwater Film Festival
Friday 2-4 October 2026
Fremantle’s underwater film festival asks us to look again at the ocean we call home.
Fremantle Underwater Film Festival returns 2–4 October for its 11th year, bringing film, art, science, music and community together around the theme HOME WATERS.
For more than a decade, a small grassroots film festival in Fremantle has been inviting audiences beneath the surface of the ocean — not simply to see what lives there, but to reconsider our relationship with it.
The Fremantle Underwater Film Festival (FUFF) returns to Cockburn Memorial Hall from 2–4 October 2026 with its 11th annual program and a deceptively simple theme: HOME WATERS.
Across three nights, the festival will bring together underwater films from Western Australia, Australia and around the world alongside marine science, art, music and community storytelling.
But festival founder Tania Douthwaite says FUFF has never really been about simply watching beautiful underwater films.
> “We spend a lot of time talking about protecting the ocean, but it’s difficult to protect something we experience as separate from ourselves,” Douthwaite said.
> “FUFF is about creating opportunities for people to become curious about the ocean, to become familiar with it, and ultimately to recognize it as part of home.
> “This year we’re asking a very local question: what changes when we begin to think of the waters around Fremantle not just as somewhere we swim, surf, fish or sail — but as waters we belong to?”
📍Cockburn Memorial Hall, Hamilton Hill
https://events.humanitix.com/fremantle-underwater-film-festival-2-4-october-2026
Totally Lit
Friday 2 – 16 October 2026
Totally Lit is back to take over Fremantle / Walyalup with two amazing weeks of live literature events. From the Port to the Prison, from the beach to the bars, in the streets and in the sky, Totally Lit is here to prove that stories belong everywhere.
With nearly 60 unique events to choose from, we have something to offer all ages. With many events available free-of-charge we also have something to offer all budgets.
📍 Walyalup Fremantle
Freo Art Collective – Night of Art Exhibition
Friday 9 October 6-8pm
✨ AN EVENING OF ART ✨
Join us for an intimate evening celebrating art, creativity and community at a one-night pop-up art exhibition designed to inspire, connect and immerse you in the world of contemporary art.
Step into an evening filled with beautiful artwork, good conversation, music, drinks and delicious nibbles — bringing artists and the wider community together in a warm and wholesome setting.
Whether you’re an art lover, collector, creative, or simply looking for a beautiful evening out, everyone is welcome.
💛 WHAT TO EXPECT
• A curated pop-up art exhibition
• An inspiring, uplifting & immersive art experience
• Drinks & delicious nibbles included
• An opportunity to connect with artists, fellow creatives & build community
• An ambient space filled with loving, welcoming vibes & beautiful tunes
• Door prizes — 2 × $100 vouchers to Fremantle Picture Framers
🎨 FEATURING ARTISTS
Amanda Kimberley, Patti Emmilia, Julie Casali, Joshua Garner, Jessica Solkowski, Freya Cheffers, Leif Harms, Clare Juriak, Gina Galli Roberts, Aloka & Sol, Hanji Chiu, Lixxi, Chloe Lappin
The creative works of these talented souls include:
– Abstract acrylic, neon & textured paintings
– Fine art, underwater & travel photography
– Reclaimed dyed textiles & fabrics
– Spirit wood carvings
– Ceramics
– Mind expanding clips & videos
🎟 TICKETS
$15 per person
Your ticket includes entry, drinks, alcohol, food/nibbles, raffle ticket for the evening.
Come along, discover new art, meet beautiful people, support local creativity and celebrate the power of art to bring us together.
We can’t wait to share this special evening with you. 🤍
ℹ️ Theme: Heart expansion, growth & healing
📍Fremantle Fibonacci Centre 19 Blinco Street
https://www.eventbookings.com/b/event/freo-art-collective-night-of-art-exhibition
Consort
Saturday 10 October 7pm – 8:15pm
Join HIP Company in Consort: an intimate musical vignette of 16th and 17th century England, celebrating works for viol ensemble and voice.
This concert brings together four of Western Australia’s leading viol proponents: Krista Low, Hannah Herriman, Tadhg Sudlow and Andrew Tait; playing replicas of historical treble, tenor and bass viols. Joining them in song are David Valsamidis (UK bass-baritone) and Bonnie de la Hunty (soprano and Artistic Director).
📍Old Customs House, Fremantle
https://events.humanitix.com/consort
Dual Nature – Tammi de Rooy and Sarah Eve
13 October- 8 November 2026
Launch night Thursday 15 October 5pm-7pm
Dual Nature brings together two Western Australian artists, Tammi de Rooy and Sarah Eve, whose work explores the Australian landscape through very different visual languages.
Tammi’s detailed oil paintings focus on atmospheric light, wildflowers and the quieter moments of regional Western Australia, while my Abstract Realist paintings explore geology, waterways, ancient rock formations and deep time.
The exhibition will be held at Palette Fremantle in North Fremantle, just metres from Leighton Beach, from 13 October to 8 November 2026.
They are also holding an opening reception on Thursday 15 October from 5pm to 7pm, where visitors can meet both artists, view the exhibition and join an informal evening of art and conversation overlooking the coast.
📍Palette Fremantle – 1 Freeman Loop, North Fremantle
Fremantle Design Week 2026
16 – 25 October 2026
Fashion parade, sustainable circular furniture and clothing, short film screenings at Luna SX, studio showcases, architectural panel talks, and more, there is something for every Design buff.
The Fremantle Design Week 2026 program is live!
Immerse yourself in 11 days packed full of design and design ideas, with over 60 events in and around the port city.
Local architects, designers, makers, artists and creatives will be joined by some of Australia’s leading design voices, connecting you to the people, projects and movements shaping design in the West and globally.
Preview some highlights below, then jump onto the website for the full program. Pull up the diary, plan your design week, and book now!
📍Walyalup Fremantle
https://fremantledesignweek.com/?mc_cid=19e5102a97&mc_eid=588d2ccdcc
F.RE.0 Fashion Festival
Saturday 17 October 10am – 4pm
The inaugural FREO Fashion Festival is a celebration of Western Australian sustainable fashion, taking place on Saturday, October 17. Transforming Walyalup Koort and the Fremantle Town Hall, this one-day city takeover brings together local independent designers, makers, upcyclers, and pre-loved fashion curators.
Visitors can experience three distinct runway showcases, explore a large outdoor sustainable fashion market, participate in hands-on upcycling workshops, attend insightful industry panel talks, and join in a community clothes swap as we celebrate World Op Shop Day.
This event features both free and ticketed activations, offering inspiration for a vibrant, inclusive, and collaborative local fashion industry.
Runway Program
11:00 AM – Re:Imagine Runway (Walyalup Koort)
Located on the paved area in front of the Fremantle Town Hall, this runway showcases unique wearable art, upcycled designs, and curated pre-loved and vintage fashion.
12:30 PM – The Pre-Loved Parade (Henderson Street Mall)
Located in front of the Fremantle Markets, this surprise flash mob runway features 10 professional dancers and 24 models bringing the street to life.
2:00 PM – Re:Volutionise Runway (Walyalup Koort)
Highlighting the future of ethical design in Western Australia, this runway features independent designers, current fashion students, and recent graduates who design and produce ethically.
Other Festival Activations
Sustainable Fashion Market
Explore a curated selection of local independent designers, makers, and quality pre-loved and vintage vendors.
Upcycling Workshops & Clothes Swap
Participate in hands-on workshops focused on mending and textile upcycling, or bring quality garments to exchange at the community clothes swap.
Industry Panel Talks
Join local industry leaders and change-makers inside the Fremantle Town Hall as they discuss circularity, sustainability, and the future of fashion.
📍Walyalup Koort, 8 William Street, Fremantle
https://events.humanitix.com/freo-fashion-festival
Author Talk: Brooke Davis on No One’s Looking
Tuesday 20 October 6:30pm – 8:30pm
New Edition Bookshop is proud to host Australian author Brooke Davis in Fremantle. Celebrating the release of her new novel, No One’s Looking. Brooke will be in-conversation with local musician Lucy Peach.
Doors open 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start. Book sales and signings available on the night. Nibbles provided and drinks available from the bar.
About The Book:
Susan’s husband’s sudden demand for an open marriage – and a rather large purple object she’d forgotten about – provokes a slow-dawning epiphany: being the ‘good’ girl doesn’t always mean it’s good for you.
Just down the road, her sister Vicki listens at the door of her seventeen-year-old daughter’s room – her only child – and is shocked at what she hears. Her old urge to scream builds. She can’t help believing something very bad is going to happen.
It’s January in suburban Australia – stinking hot, the sound of tennis and cricket on telly, the threat of bushfires in the air. Vicki is right, something is unravelling. Rage, desire, fear, wonder (and the occasional nipple) are unleashed.
In the aftermath, will Susan and Vicki ever find out what’s possible when no one’s looking?
📍The National Hotel (upstairs), Fremantle
https://events.humanitix.com/brookedavisnooneslooking
Spookfest 26
31 October 7pm – 11:55pm
Unicorn presents Spookfest 26 where Halloween descends on the Buffalo Club for one night only. 2 stages! 9 bands!!
Double headliners The Floors and Guild lead the charge joined by Unicorn, Noah Skape, Hip Priest, ParmeZan, Phantom Island, Ursula, and Old Time Sing Song Man across two stages.
Fancy dress, if you dare. Ghouls, ghosts, monsters, witches, the undead and everything in between — come as your worst nightmare, or come as you are. The choice is yours.
The Buffalo Club transforms into Perth’s darkest Halloween gathering. Come face your fate.
📍Buffalo Club Fremantle
https://events.humanitix.com/spookfest-2026
PIAZZA Wall x No More Blank Walls
28 November – 13 December 2026
This summer, some of the world’s most exciting street artists will transform PIAZZA Fremantle into a large-scale open-air gallery and permanent public art destination.
From 28 November to 13 December, 18 Australian and International artists will create 15 large-scale murals across walls, laneways and gathering spaces throughout the precinct. Watch the artworks come to life in real time, meet the artists behind the works, and experience a festival celebrating creativity, culture and community.
GLOBAL NAMES. LOCAL STORIES.
PIAZZA Walls x No More Blank Walls Festival brings together an ambitious artist line-up, with internationally acclaimed muralists creating alongside Australia’s leading street artists and Fremantle creatives.
INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS
El Mac (USA) • Jeks (USA) • Bezt (Poland) • Dulk (Spain) • James Bullough (Germany) • Aylo (UK) • Erre (Colombia) • Remi Tournier (France) • Smug
AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS
Hayley Welsh • Hope • James Giddy • Jasmine Crisp • Starsan
FREMANTLE COLLABORATION
ArtbyRow • Emily Rose • Jordan Paolillo • Liam Dee
Together, the artists will create a permanent mural trail spanning 925sqm across the precinct, leaving a lasting creative legacy in the heart of Fremantle.
• Live Mural Painting
• Workshops
• Guided Tours
• Piazza Walls Block Party
• Meet The Artists
• Movies and more…
📍South Terrace Piazza 36 South Terrace, Fremantle
https://piazzafremantle.com/whats-on/piazza-walls/
If there’s any missed local shows and events that are about to open, do make sure to email Gayle so we can include your show, event, gig.
* Arts Scene Around Freo is compiled by our Arts Editor, Gayle O’Leary. If you’d like your community event listed email Gayle here.
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